The boom in global trade during the Seventies and Eighties, and the rise of the hypermarket, meant greater amounts of fresh produce were available every day.

Frozen food specialist Iceland has been one of the best performing supermarkets of the credit crisis and last year, the value of the frozen food market leapt almost 6 per cent to £5.6 billion. Value sales of frozen potato products rose 8 per cent and vegetables by nearly 7 per cent.

The horsemeat scare earlier this year knocked confidence in frozen burgers and processed meat products.

But experts claim the rise in single person households has also contributed to frozen food's resurgence. Peas, cauliflower, sweet corn, meats and Yorkshire puds top the list of the food most often found in the freezer cabinet.

Mr Davies said: "Modern families are becoming more aware that doing a big weekly shop often results in more fresh food going to waste.

"It's a substantial hidden cost, which can add as much as 10 per cent to the weekly food bill for a family of four."